Pivoting hanging baskets assemblage weighted for gravity closure

Abstract

Hanging baskets assemblage includes a plurality of vertically mounted baskets pivotally suspended in a support framework allowing them to swing freely. Freely pivoting hanging baskets in the assemblage allows the baskets to easily tilt down on one side to expose contents simply with the weight of a hand. The utility is further augmented by an optional ancillary member, which provides a counter balance weight hung on one side of a plurality of baskets to assist gravity to allow the baskets to pivot back to a neutral or closed position. The ancillary member also permits the simultaneous opening and closing of all the baskets offering further utility. One embodiment of said ancillary member has a series of insertion cutouts with lip-hooks that engage with the baskets through an insertion slot in the rigid basket brims, a second embodiment is attached directly to the baskets with coupled eye-screws or other bendable means.

Claims

1. A pivoting hanging basket system with automatic closing comprising: a cluster of pivoting hanging baskets of complementary size and material, a vertical support framework in which to suspend said pivoting hanging baskets sufficient to cluster a predetermined number of said baskets, connectors for attaching said pivoting hanging baskets to said vertical support framework that allows said baskets to pivot freely, an ancillary member for simultaneously pivoting said pivoting hanging baskets to provide access to all the baskets concurrently, which is a counter weight to assist gravity in automatically bringing said pivoting hanging baskets into a neutral or closed position, said pivoting hanging baskets are each capped by a brim at a predetermined height, wherein said brim of each basket has a corresponding insertion slot at a predetermined point along one side of the brim to engage with said ancillary member, the ancillary member has a plurality of insertion cutouts for engaging with the insertion slots on the brims of said pivoting hanging baskets' wherein said insertion cutouts having lip-hooks at mouths of the said insertion cutouts for engaging with respective ones of the insertion slots on said brims, whereby the plurality of hanging baskets can be clustered close together to maximize space, while pivoting to allow for easy access, with gravity acting to close said pivoting hanging baskets.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

(1) DrawingsFigures

(2) The appended drawings illustrate the method and system of the embodiment, it will be understood that such drawing's represent select embodiments of the embodiment and, therefore, are not meant to limit its possibility regarding other embodiments which the embodiment may suggest or contemplate.

(3) Therefore:

(4) FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of a pivoting hanging storage baskets assembly, with rigid stand alone baskets in a pivoted open position

(5) FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view of the assembly, with rigid stand alone baskets in their neutral or closed

(6) FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of a pivoting hanging storage baskets with flexible material baskets, in a pivoted open position

(7) FIG. 2B is a rear view showing the flexible baskets pivoted to an open position.

(8) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rigid basket with insertion slot in the brim and axially positioned pivot pins

(9) FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a flexible basket with hook and eye attachment and axially positioned pivot pins extending from the rigid rim

(10) FIG. 4B is a top view of the rigid rim for the flexible basket with hook and eye attachment and axially positioned pivot pins extending from ends of the rigid rim

(11) FIG. 5A is a side view of the ancillary member with insertion cutouts

(12) FIG. 5B a side view of the ancillary member with coupled eye-screw attachments

(13) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the vertical support framework

(14) FIGS. 7A, 7B, pivoting means; pivot pin and pivot pocket, pivot pin and pivot pocket

(15) FIG. 8 an example of a couple quick release catches

(16) FIG. 9A side view of rigid basket unit in neutral or closed position, showing basket being removed from the pivot pin pocket and ancillary member insertion cutout

(17) FIG. 9B side view of rigid basket unit in pivoted or open position for accessing contents

(18) FIG. 10 perspective view of rigid basket showing pivot pin and brim insertion slot engaged with insertion cutout hook

(19) FIG. 11 side view of pivot pin engaged with pivot pin pocket

(20) FIG. 12A side view of flexible basket unit in neutral or closed position with pivot rivets and ancillary member with couple-eye screw attachments

(21) FIG. 12B side view of flexible basket unit in pivoted or open position

(22) FIG. 13 is an illustration of a plurality of the second embodiment with flexible baskets mounted on a wheeled base.

(23) FIG. 14 is an illustration of a duet of the second embodiment with flexible baskets mounted on a base.

(24) TABLE-US-00002 Drawings - Reference Numerals 20. vertical support framework 22. top cross member 24. right vertical side rail 26. left vertical side rail 28. bottom cross member 30. framework hanger hook 32. framework hanger eye-loop 34. hanger mechanism 36. rigid basket (a,b,c,d,e) 38. rigid wall 40. rigid base 42. rigid brim 44. brim insertion slot 46. flexible basket (a, b, c, d, e) 48. flexible basket rigid rim 50. flexible mesh basket form 52. pivot pin 54. pivot pin pocket 56. pivot pin with flange 58. pivot pin pocket with flange 60. pivot axis 62. pivot rivet 64. ancillary member with cutouts 66. cutout lip-hook 68. insertion cutout 70. ancillary member w/eye screws 72. coupled eye-screws 74. quick release catch

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Description of First Embodiment

(25) FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B depict the pivoting hanging baskets assemblage of the first embodiment, with rigid baskets. FIG. 1A shows the assembly in its neutral or closed position and FIG. 1B shows the assembly in its pivoted or open position. The pivoting clustered hanging basket assembly includes a vertical support framework 20 FIG. 3 with top and bottom cross members 22 and 28 connected by left and right vertical support rails 26 and 24.

(26) The vertical support rails 26 and 24 include a series of pivot pin pockets 58 substantially opposite from each other on the respective vertical support members spaced at predetermined distances to accommodate a plurality of baskets 36 a,b,c,d,e which are axially aligned on the framework and define a pivot axis 60 that repeats for each basket represented in the array.

(27) FIG. 3 depicts a basket of rigid construction. The rigid basket 36 in FIG. 3 comprises four rigid substantially planar walls 38 which are outstanding from a rigid base 40 to define a space within which items may be stored. The rigid walls 38 of said basket 36 are sloped to allow the baskets to nest with a like basket. The rigid basket 36 also comprises a rigid brim 42 that flairs out from the walls at the top of the basket at a predetermined height.

(28) The lateral sides of each baskets rigid brim 42 include an axially, outwardly projecting pivot pin 56 as shown in FIG. 7A. A pivot pin 56 positioned on each lateral side of the rigid brim 42 are axially aligned with each other and define a pivot axis 60 for the rigid basket 36. When assembling the pivoting clustered basket unit the rigid basket 36 is inserted into the vertical support framework 20, with the basket 36 in the neutral position as depicted in FIG. 9A.

(29) The rigid brim 42 includes a brim insertion slot 44 for engaging with an ancillary member with cutouts 64 to pivot all of the clustered baskets simultaneously. The ancillary member with cutouts 64, having a plurality of insertion cutouts 68 each having a cutout lip-hook 66 at the top and bottom of the insertion cutout 68. The pivot action is triggered as one side of a basket in the array is pivoted or pulled down, by a plurality of cutout lip-hooks 66 acting upon the ancillary member 64 while it engages with each of the basket's brim insertion slots 44; in this way all the baskets in the array simultaneously pivot.

(30) In the embodiment depicted, the framework 20 includes five sets of pivot pockets 54 divide equally between the left vertical side rail 26 and right vertical side rail 24, which are opposed and aligned along a pivot axis 60, each set adapted to receive the corresponding pivot pin 56 of each separate example of basket 36. In the present embodiment the axial pivot pin 56 is a generally cylindrical molded member and includes a tangential or radial projecting pivot, as depicted in FIG. 7B. As depicted in FIG. 11, the pivot pin 56 slides into the pivot pin pocket 58, which also includes a corresponding tangential projecting pivot; the pivots will serve to limit the rotational movement of the basket.

Description of Second Embodiment

(31) FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B shows a second embodiment of pivoting hanging baskets assemblage, with flexible baskets. FIG. 2A shows the assembly in its neutral or closed position and FIG. 2B shows the assembly in its front closed position. The clustered basket assembly includes a vertical support framework FIG. 6 with top and bottom cross members 22 and 28 connected by left and right vertical support members 26 and 24. The vertical support members 26 and 24 include a series of pivot pin pockets 54 substantially opposite from each other on the respective vertical support members spaced at predetermined distances to accommodate a plurality of baskets, which are axially aligned and define an axis 60 that repeats for each basket represented.

(32) FIG. 4A depicts a flexible basket 46 constructed with a rigid basket rim 48 with a flexible mesh basket form 50. The flexible mesh basket form 50 in FIG. 4A defines a space within which items may be stored. The lateral sides of each flexible basket rim 48 include an axially, outwardly projecting pivot pin 52 as shown in FIG. 7A. The pivot pin 52 positioned on each lateral side of the rim are axially aligned with each other and define a pivot axis 60 for the flexible basket 46. When assembling the pivoting clustered basket unit the flexible basket 46 is inserted into the vertical support framework 20 with the basket 46 in the neutral position as depicted in FIG. 12A.

(33) Each basket rim includes a means to accept a set of coupled eye-screws 72 as seen in FIG. 12A for engaging with an ancillary member 70 to pivot all of the clustered baskets simultaneously. The ancillary member with coupled eye-screws 70 shares a set of coupled eye-screws 72 with each of the flexible baskets 46. The pivot action is activated by a plurality of couple eye-screws 72 acting on the ancillary member 70 engaging with each of the basket's rims, so when one side of any basket in the array is pivoted or pulled down all of the baskets pivot or open simultaneously as depicted in FIG. 12B.

(34) In the embodiment depicted, the framework 20 includes five sets of the pivot pin pockets 54 divide between the right vertical side rail 24 and left vertical side rail 26, which are opposed and aligned along a pivot axis 60, each set adapted to receive the corresponding pivot pin 52 of each separate example of basket 46. The basket rim 48 and the vertical support member 20 are preferably manufactured from a molded plastic material such as polypropylene, but can be made of any variety of rigid materials including but not limited to metal and wood. The flexible mesh basket form 50 can be made with a variety of flexible materials including polypropylene fibers.

(35) The pivoting hanging baskets assemblage will be housed in a vertical support framework 20 with a framework hanger hook 30, or alternatively a framework hanger eye-loop 32.

CONCLUSION OR RAMIFICATION

(36) Thus the reader will see that at least one embodiment of the pivoting hanging baskets assemblage provides greater utility over the prior art, providing an ease of accessing by the simple weight of ones hand and the assistance of gravity to close the array after releasing ones hold on a basket.

(37) While the above descriptions contain much specificity, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of several embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible for example . . . . Though there are five basket containers depicted in the embodiments above, any number of baskets may be utilized in the practice of the design. The ancillary member for pivoting the baskets could be replaced with a gear or pulley system nestled within the vertical support rails.

(38) The framework in the first and second embodiment can be made in modular sections for easier packaging and shipping, the framework in the third embodiment can be of any bendable material such as rope, cable, braided fabric, or woven fibers. Besides the pivot pin method for connecting the baskets, the pivoting action can be accomplished by numerous other methods including but not limited to pivot rivets, fulcrum, and fulcrum guide, with the S hook 64 being replaced with a lanyard clip or split key ring.

(39) It is contemplated that the baskets in the first and second embodiments have a oblong shape and be substantially made of polypropylene, however they can also be oval, round, or octagonal, etc., and different sizes and materials such as metal, wood, composite or any other traditional material.

(40) Accordingly, the scope should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

BENEFITS

(41) Sides of all baskets in the assemblage simultaneously pivot down for easier to access to their contents

(42) Side of baskets pivot down for easier to access contents

(43) Baskets automatically pivot to closed or neutral position using gravity

(44) Allows for a plurality of baskets hanging in a given space

(45) Narrow profile allows assemblage to hang mid counter

(46) Assemblage can be used in closets, garages, offices, factories and other work spaces.